Grandy, Campbell share joy of learning with kids

Mets hold sixteenth Reading Rally at P.S. 92 in Queens

NEW YORK -- As they do every year around this time, the Mets sent emissaries into the local community Tuesday in a concerted effort to promote literacy at its infancy. For sixteen years, Mets players have shown elementary students the importance of reading by dictating classic stories and answering questions as part of their Reading Rally program.

It was with this history as a backdrop that Curtis Granderson and Eric Campbell arrived at P.S. 92 in Corona, N.Y., to read Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham" and other stories to third, fourth and fifth graders.

"Its very important getting a chance to go back to the school system and showing kids similar things you went through at their age," said Granderson. "It's important to show them opportunities will arise for them if they do the right things and stay on the straight and narrow path."

Giving back is nothing new for Granderson, a son of teachers who encourages kids to be educated and active through his Grand Kids Foundation. Granderson started the organization in 2007 in Detroit, as a member of the Tigers, and expanded it to Chicago, New York and Florida throughout his Major League career.